News & Media

Recent Buzz

Washington Post

“Parenting By Vicki Hoefle, Part 1,” by Sarah Hamaker
I recently spoke with Vicki Hoefle, professional parent educator, author of Duct Tape Parenting, and national speaker, about parenting. Her new book, The Straight Talk on Parenting; A No-Nonsense Approach on How to Grow a Grown-Up is available now. Read the full article.

The Stir.com

“7 Mistakes Parents Make When Their Kids are Fighting”, by Judy Dutton
Trying to mediate fights between kids is stressful, aggravating, and often futile. By correcting some common mistakes, parents can use more effective strategies and successfully calm the waters. Read the full article.

TheStir.com

“Do’s and Don’ts of Throwing a Kid’s Birthday Party”, by Judy Dutton
Tips from a panel of experts on how to throw a children’s party that everyone – even the other parents! – will enjoy. Read the full article.

Livestrong Blog

“Four Simple Questions All Parents Should Ask Themselves”
Overscheduled children are forgetting what it feels like just to be kids. Instead, they’re tired, agitated, stressed and spending their rare downtime vegging out in front of the TV. Before signing your kids up for summer activities, make sure it’s the right time, and for the right reasons. Read the full article.

Metro.us – New York

“How to Actually Relax on a Family Vacation”, by Emily Laurence
It sometimes seems like traveling with kids is anything but a vacation; but these tried-and-true tips will help keep everyone happy and make for a relaxing, memorable family trip.Read the full article.

Central Penn Parent

“Is it Soccer or Piano Tonight? Or Both?”, by David F. Salter
There’s a fine line between involved kids and over-scheduled kids. It’s all about finding a healthy balance, for parent and child. Read the full article here.

SheKnows Parenting

“Keeping Your Child on Track: Lessons Your Child Should be Learning in Preschool”, by Christine Bryant
Kindergarten is important, but often the preschool experience is what really sets the tone for your kids’ next twelve years of education. Read the full article.

TODAY Parents

“Sneaky Teens and Booze: How Parents Can (Attempt to) Keep Parties Dry”, by Alexandra Rockey Fleming
Worried about your kids and alcohol? Don’t know how or when to start the conversation? TODAY.com got Vicki’s perspective on parties, booze, and sneaky teens. Read the full article.

VPR, Vermont Edition

“Land the Helicopter: Parenting that Doesn’t Hover”, by Steve Zind and Patti Daniels
Vicki talked with VPR about Duct Tape Parenting and her set of tools and strategies that focus on building self-reliant, resilient children. Listen to the segment.

Newsday – Business

“Money Fix: Saying No Helps Kids Manage Money in Long Term”, by Sheryl Nance-Nash
The key to changing habits that spoil your children is consistency and maintenance of boundaries.Read the full article.

BabyZone

“Forget the Naughy List: 7 Threat-Free Tips for Better Toddler Behavior”, by Alice Gomstyn
Around the holidays, it’s tempting to wrangle your small children with bribes or threats (“elf on a shelf”, anyone?). But these tips create a more cooperative solution.Read the full article.

The Washington Post, On Parenting

“How to Help a Young Child Learn Generosity”, by Amy Joyce
Helping children understand the importance of giving depends on exploring the issue from a perspective that they can understand.

Carolina Parent

“Growing Up: Tips for Raising Generous Children”, by Malia Jacobson
How do you teach your young children about the joys of gift-giving? For 2-5 year olds, it’s all about modeling that behavior.Read the full article.

US News – Money

“How Honest Should Parents be With Kids About Money?”, by Geoff Williams
The key to discussing money with your kids is to be honest and candid. Letting them in on the nitty-gritty of personal finance from a young age is key to fostering a sense of how money really works.Read the full article.

MyNorthwest.com

“Former Seattle Daycare Teacher Encourages ‘Duct Tape Parenting'”, by Colleen O’Brien
Vicki talks about her Seattle roots and her start as a daycare teacher in this local blog.Read the full article.

The Washington Post, On Parenting

“When to Give a Parent Parenting Advice”, by Amy Joyce
When you see a friend struggling with their kids, when and how do you intervene? It’s important to empathize rather than judge, and keep the conversation brief and supportive.Read the full article.

CNN Living

“OMG! Your Teen Actually Talks to You?”, by Kelly Wallace
Communicating with your teenagers about tough topics like sex, drugs, and alcohol depends on a parent’s enthusiasm for tackling those issues, and a willingness to share their own vulnerabilities.Read full article.

Chicago Tribune, The Parent Hood

“Is Busy Daughter Getting More Than Her Fair Share?”, by Heidi Stevens
When one child is enrolled in more activities than the other, do you as a parent owe money to the less involved child? Where do the real inequities lie?Read full article.

PBS Newshour Money Sen$e with Paul Solman

How to Teach Children to be Savvy Consumers: Let them Spend
If children represent the future of this country, their financial habits may go a long way toward shaping this nation’s economic health. But developing smart habits with money means starting financial education early. Read full article.

Newsday.com Business

Saying No Helps Kids Manage Money in the Long Term
The last couple of years have been tough, but parents haven’t stopped spoiling their children. They just can’t say no.

NPR, Tell Me More

Wait, Yelling Hurts Kids? with Host, Michel Martin.

MARTIN: That’s interesting. How’d you come up with that one? That was an interesting idea.

WILLIAMS: Well, that was the suggestion from author Vicki Hoefle who wrote the book “Duct Tape Parenting,” and she said that it was enough to give her 10 seconds – I’ve got this candy in my mouth. I’m going to suck on the candy and I’m not going to talk until I’m calm enough to address this behavior without being insulting or losing my temper.

Washington Post, On Parenting

“Study Says Yelling as Harmful as Spanking in Disciplining Kids, So What’s a Parent to Do?”, by Mari-Jane Williams
It’s hard to discipline children. You can’t hit them. Timeouts are not effective. Now, a study out of the University of Pittsburgh says yelling at teens and tweens — particularly when it involves cursing or insults — can be just as harmful as hitting. So what can you do?

Remember that the word “discipline” originally meant to teach, so look for opportunities to coach your child, not just punish him for a misstep. Read full article.

Washington Post, On Parenting

“Do Timeouts Work in Disciplining Children?”, by Mari-Jane Williams
Many parents use timeouts to deal with undesirable behavior in children younger than 5. It goes like this: Child breaks rule. Parent puts child in an isolated location (the naughty chair) and ignores him for one minute per year of age, while the child considers his behavior. When time’s up on the timeout, parent and child discuss the problem behavior, hug and move on.

Long Island NewsDay.com

Talking to Kids About the Miley Cyrus, VMA Performance, by Jennifer Berger.
Former “Hannah Montana” star Miley Cyrus created quite a stir among parents after her 2013 MTV Video Music Awards performance on Sunday night. As a Disney star with a young teen fan base, many parents where shocked by her racy gyrations, “twerking” and disturbing gestures.

Mom groups and bloggers are outraged by Cyrus’ suggestive, eyebrow-raising performance. According to “Entertainment Weekly” the Parents Television Council (PTC) had this to say: Read full article.

Woman’s Day

How to Stop Yelling at Your Kids, by Denise Schipani

No parent plans to yell at her children. But then the milk gets spilled, the backpack gets forgotten or the dog remains un-walked. Before you raise your voice again, think: Why do we resort to yelling? “Because we don’t feel heard,” says Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, coauthor of Smart Parenting for Smart Kids. The key to reducing the volume, she says, is realizing that the more we shout to be heard, the less kids actually listen. Here, 10 ways to short-circuit yelling in your house. Read full article.

Burlington Free Press

“Embers radiated red in the grand hearth inside Burton Snowboard headquarters in Burlington as a keg of local brew was tapped in celebration of its new spring/summer line. Segments of the party happily spilled over into a private room with many sofas — a conference room like no other.

In this room, Vicki Hoefle of Middlebury spoke to the comfy crew about parenting. Hoefle has been sharing her thoughts publicly through her Parenting On Track program for well over a decade, and has now written a book called “Duct Tape Parenting.”

Hoefle’s sold-out six-week course is being held at Burton and in South Burlington. Read full article, here.